DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 786 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Bishop
Abstract: Requires municipal governing authorities to furnish to the registrar of voters and the
secretary of state, by electronic medium, copies of municipal annexation ordinances.
Present law authorizes owners of property lying contiguous and adjacent to the territorial corporate
limits of any municipality, except in New Orleans, to petition the mayor and governing authority of
the municipality to annex their property into the municipality. Requires that the petition contain
one-third in number and value of the bona fide owners of the property and that a majority in number
and value of the qualified electors residing in and upon the property vote in favor of annexation at
an election held for that purpose.
Present law authorizes the municipality, once annexation is approved by the property owners, to
order an election and submit a proposition to qualified electors residing within the corporate limits
of the municipality for the purpose of deciding whether they consent to the proposed annexation.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires the municipal governing authority to furnish the registrar of voters a copy of
all municipal ordinances annexing territory as well as a map and written description of all newly
annexed territory.
Proposed law specifies that a copy of the ordinances be furnished, by electronic medium, to the
registrar of voters and secretary of state within 15 days of the adoption of the ordinances. Requires
the municipal governing authority, if it cannot furnish the information by electronic medium, to
furnish it by certified mail or commercial courier.
Present law authorizes the governing authorities of incorporated municipalities to enlarge or contract
the municipal boundaries by ordinance.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires the municipal governing authority to furnish the registrar of voters a copy of
all municipal ordinances annexing territory as well as a map and written description of all newly
annexed territory.
Proposed law specifies that a copy of the ordinances be furnished, by electronic medium, to the
registrar of voters and secretary of state within 15 days of the adoption of the ordinances. Requires the municipal governing authority, if it cannot furnish the information by electronic medium, to
furnish it by certified mail or commercial courier.
Present law requires, within 10 days after the adoption of the ordinance, that a written description
of the entire boundary of the municipality as changed be filed by the clerk of the municipality with
the clerk of the district court of the parish in which the municipality is located.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires the municipal governing authority to
furnish the registrar of voters and the secretary of state, a copy of the ordinance enlarging or
contracting the boundaries of the municipality, within 15 days of the adoption of the ordinance, as
well as a map and written description of the entire boundary of the municipality as changed.
Requires the municipal governing authority, if it cannot furnish the information by electronic
medium, to furnish it by certified mail or commercial courier.
Proposed law defines the terms "electronic medium" to mean electronic mail or facsimile and
"commercial courier" to mean any foreign of domestic business entity having as its primary purpose
the delivery of letters and parcels of any type acquires a signed receipt from the addressee, or the
addressee's agent.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 33:160(B) and 171(A); Adds R.S. 33:160(C), 171(D), and 178(C) and (D))